AOTA Annual Conference Blog

Our Celebrity Icons

From notable keynote speakers to past and current AOTA presidents, the faces of our professional celebrities abound at conference time.  One notable personality and conference icon is our own colleague Fred Sammons.  Fred, an entrepreneurial OTR founded the company that we all know today as Sammons Preston Rolyan, a huge supplier of OT equipment and supporter of AOTA.  In my several years of conference attendance, not one has passed where Fred himself was not in attendance as well. From his eternal smile to well coiffed white hair, Fred is a delight.  Not only does he attend the AOTA conference, but he can be found in the exhibit hall taking photos with attendees.  As you pass the Sammons Preston Rolyan booth you will hear him say "Get your picture with Fred"... an instant memento of your day.  I personally have at least four pictures with Fred.  I change year to year, Fred never seems to.

In addition to having a photo taken with him, Fred may also be at the airport waiting to give you a ride to your hotel.  Two years ago I flew into Long Beach airport 2 days before conference in order to attend the program directors meeting.  While waiting for my luggage, I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned around there was Fred, asking if I was an OT (yes, we CAN be picked out of the crowd).  I told him yes and he said that he would give me a ride to my hotel in his Limo.  We found 3 other OT's and took off down the LA freeway with Fred at the wheel.

So don't forget to look for Fred in the exhibit hall and keep your eyes open at the airport...you just might hitch a ride with one of our own home grown celebrities!

Debbie Amini

Putting a Face to a Name

Hello again, only about 3.5 weeks to go until conference!  Since my last posting I was contacted by an OT who has been attending conference for over 40 years, great consistency huh!  I cannot wait to put a face with his name and spend a little bit of time with someone who shares such a passion for OT!  My friends and co-workers many times call me "an OT nerd", what a compliment I think!  I look forward to meeting so many other OT professionals all with varying levels of experience, variety of practice areas.  One person I am hoping to meet in person is Kathryn Eberhardt.  Seeing her name throughout listservs and in articles and then to be able to say hello in person and shake her hand will be just great.  David and Kathryn, keep your eye out for this OT Nerd and see you in St. Louis!   Melissa

First Annual AOTA Student Forum

For the first time ever at AOTA conference, the students from the local occupational therapy education programs will be hosting a student forum.  The forum will be held on Sunday April 22nd, 2007 from 8-9:30 at the conference center.  Details will be in the conference booklet.  This will be a great opportunity for all students to be able to network with students from other schools and hear about activities and events that students are doing around the country related to the Centennial Vision.  I encourage all students who are attending conference to be apart of this event. 

Tim Wolf

Preparing for Networking

This week I’m making sure I have enough business cards ready for conference. A tip I’d like to share so you don’t have to write your name and address a million times over is to bring some preprinted address labels. Although many vendors will scan your conference badge to send you information, not all vendors do this and will ask that you fill out a card or information request. Having address labels with you can save you much valued time at the exhibit hall in this area.

I’m also interested in encouraging conference attendees to do as much networking as possible. One way to do this is obviously though talking to those you are seated next to or nearby at conference session. Another great informal networking place is the lobby of the conference hotel, the exhibit hall food court, local restaurants, just about anywhere you see individuals with AOTA conference bags is a potential networking location. You can always tell who is attending conference because they have their signature conference bag.

Last year I was trying to get my wireless connection to work and was not having any success. A gentleman sat down next to me and was using his computer. I leaned over to inquire how he got his computer to work when mine wasn’t cooperating. Low and behold it was Brian Holmquist, MOT, OTR/L. This is a person I had read comments from on the AOTA MH SIS listserve many times, and I was now sitting next to him. I’d even had students interview him over the phone before but we’d never met in person. Needless to say he was very helpful in getting my wireless connection to work and even more important it was great to get to meet him as well as Lisa Mahaffey, our current MHSIS chairperson.

Last year it seemed like there were several mental health OT’s who would congregate together in the lobby of the hotel in the evening. We’d share and discuss the sessions we had attended that day and I learned twice as much! Of course I didn’t get “official” CEU credit for the informal sharing, but I felt like I learned a great deal and had the opportunity to network with therapists who I look forward to seeing again this year at conference.

So, look at the postings on the AOTA listserve. See who’s planning to attend conference and develop a plan to catch up with individuals you’d like to meet and talk with in person. And make sure you’ve got your business cards and address labels ready!

Christine Urish PhD, OTR/L, BCMH

Tours of Your Workplace in St. Louis?

I frequently find myself trying to decide which of the many presentations and events I to attend.  If I could only be in a few different places at the same time.  While trying to plan my conference experience last evening I had a thought. I wondered if it would be possible to tour some of the local industry to see what occupational therapists have done to prevent injury and optimize the environment for the workers there. I think this would be an excellent opportunity for us to share our ideas and experiences as well as learn from those around us.

So, are there any therapists in the St. Louis area that work for or have worked with a company that would permit a few small groups of us to come out and tour their factories/offices and see how occupational therapy has influenced their workspace?

Nathan Yeager

Alumni Receptions at Conference!!

Hello AOTA conference attendees!

Networking is one of the most important aspects of conference, especially for new practitioners.  ALUMNI RECEPTIONS provide an opportunity of networking with past graduates from your OT program.  Please post a message if your OT or OTA program is having a reception.  Please provide information of when and where so your past graduates can join!

Enjoy conference!!

Alumni Reception for Washington University in St. Louis

Friday, April 20, 2007 from 9:00-11:00pm

in the Majestic Ballroom in the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel. 

Kristen Lindeman